Update on AJ Styles' injury following WWE SmackDown - Reports

AJ Styles made his WWE return this past Friday after a nearly four-month absence. He wasted little time as he wrestled Carmelo Hayes after a brief promo addressing his recent past actions, signaling a babyface turn.

Hayes wound up defeating Styles via forfeit after the veteran suffered a knee injury midway through their contest. The crowd was cheering on for The Phenomenal One until the applause turned to concern over his well-being.

As per Fightful Select, AJ Styles' injury angle was planned, and he is fine. There were rumblings on social media as it looked legitimate. WWE even put the camera on Styles as he was getting checked after the match. For the time being, wrestling fans can relax a little as it appears to be part of a work for the two-time WWE Champion.

The angle was seemingly a set-up to determine United States Champion LA Knight's next challenger. AJ Styles even brought up his history with The Megastar, having been at odds with each other during WrestleMania season this year.

After a technical win over The Phenomenal One, Carmelo Hayes called him a "Quitter" concerning his injury.

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When AJ Styles broke character to praise LA Knight

AJ Styles and LA Knight have one thing in common — they are both TNA alumni. At WrestleMania XL, Knight defeated Styles in a singles match, this was The Megastar's first bout on The Grandest Stage of Them All. A few weeks later, the two-time WWE Champion returned the favor and emerged as the new number-one contender to Cody Rhodes.

While speaking to ComicBook.com's Liam Crowley ahead of The Showcase of The Immortals, Styles was asked about the evolution of LA Knight from his days in TNA to where he is today in WWE:

"Well, I think that you gain experience, experience is everything. And I worked with a lot of unbelievably, unbelievably good wrestlers in TNA, and LA Knight kind of had that same path to a degree. You could see a little bit of L.A. Knight in TNA, the same L.A. Knight that you know, with the stuff he's doing, and it was only a matter of time. As soon as he gets the opportunity to be the LA Knight that he is today, he's going to be a megastar as he calls it."

After securing a win over AJ Styles in his return match, Carmelo Hayes wound up eating a BFT from the United States Champion. It remains to be seen where this storyline goes, as SmackDown GM Nick Aldis refused to grant Hayes the title match as per prior stipulation.